ITA Airways on the long-haul fleet there are three different business class cabins: the best seats
ITA Airways' fleet consists only of Airbuses, on long-haul there are three similarly named models, [...]
ITA Airways
SkyTeam
ITA Airways' fleet consists only of Airbuses, On the long haul there are three similarly named models, with a beautiful Savoy blue livery, but profoundly different from each other.
In this article:
It may sound strange, but in business class the differences are many, but not as impactful as for passengers traveling in other classes, quite the contrary. It is precisely those passengers who fly economy who should seek to travel exclusively on the newest planes.
ITA Airways' fleet of wide-body aircraft.
In order of seniority ITA Airways flies long haul with:
- A330/200 are Alitalia's legacy planes outfitted with three cabins: business, premium economy and traditional economy. These planes, barring any changes in plans, will leave service over the next few years; it is stipulated in the business plan that the last two aircraft will leave the fleet at the end of the 2025 summer season.
- A350/900 this is theflagship of the Italian flag carrier, there are 6 aircraft of this model in the fleet and they are currently configured with only two classes: business and economy, with a few rows of economy comfort. During the winter season Will be renovated in the interior And there will also be the installation of the premium economy cabin that is absent today
- A330/900neo are the latest and in August there will be 4 (or perhaps 5) flying from Rome Fiumicino to intercontinental destinations. These aircraft were configured from scratch and represent at 100% the style desired by ITA management. Outfitted with 3 cabins: business, premium economy and economy (including comfort seats) will be the backbone of ITA's future long-haul fleet, barring made-in-Germany schedule changes.
Business class on ITA Airways' A330/200s.
Alitalia's magnificent had nothing to envy the most prestigious and prosperous airlines, and those who say otherwise are lying through their teeth. Even today much of the fleet of Lufthansa does not allow all passengers to have direct aisle access, passengers in the Club World of British travel crushed like sardines e Air France, KLM, Emirates and many others have lower-level cabins to the old Alitalia.
Today, however, the old Magnifica, no longer shines as brightly as it once did and feels the weight of the years, worn out seats and many aches and pains make it the least desirable of ITA's cabins.
Personally, however, if I have to choose between traveling in business on a younger seat, but one that does not allow me direct aisle access, or this A330/200, I choose this plane. Because as I have said many times. the main feature that a "biz" seat must have is privacy and space for the passenger.
This is also the only ITA Airways cabin that offers., to passengers traveling in pairs, to reserve seats honeymoon and travel close. Being an alternate configuration, the best seats are those with the seat furthest from the aisle.
Business class on ITA Airways' A350/900s.
For me, this is the best seat among the ones ITA Airways has on the different planes, Of course, it also has a bearing on the fact that we are talking about the A350/900, which is Airbus's crown jewel and the best aircraft in the world today for quality of travel, in any class.
The Collins Super Diamond, this is the model of the seat, was "found installed" when ITA retired these planes to KM0 and is one of the best in the world, installed in various versions by so many carriers. In a few months the trim will be refurbished, although I keep hoping it will not be, to be similar to that of the new planes.
All the chairs are identical, certainly the window-side ones are definitely the best because you can look at what is happening outside and enjoy the view.
Business class on board the A330/900neo
This is business class according to ITA Airways, this cabin has been configured like a Lego, the Italian airline's engineers picked out piece by piece and configured everything from colors to finishes, optional extras At the doors (that aren't there)
This seat, the Thompson Vantage XL, is very popular and is installed on many airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Condor, Delta, Qantas. I have not yet made a "real" trip On board in this cabin, I preferred to try premium economy.
Being an alternating configuration, the best seats are those that give the passenger more isolation from the aisle. This means:
- the even-numbered rows in the window side seats (A and L)
- In the middle seats the odd-numbered rows the E seat and in the even-numbered rows the G seats.
How to know which plane you are flying on
There are several ways to know if you are flying on one plane rather than the other.
The first clue at the booking stage, i.e., when searching for flights on the ITA or an OTA site Is to see whether or not premium economy is offered. If PE is not present, the flight will be operated with the flagship, namely the A350/900, obviously until the restyling of the 6 aircraft in the fleet is completed.
The second way is to click on the "i" in the flight information on the reservation screen. The type of aircraft is reported.
No guarantee for the passenger
Companies have every right to change planes without anything to notify the passenger, unless there is a change in treatment (for the worse), i.e., if you book business and change the plane you are not entitled to any refund, conversely if you book premium economy and get downgraded to economy you are entitled to change the flight, refund of the ticket, or refund of the difference between the price incurred and the price used.
What needs to be taken into consideration is the interchangeability between machines. It is more difficult for a route planned with an A350 to be operated, suddenly, with an A330. In contrast, the A330neo are interchangeable with the A330/200 with very little notice.
From Milan only the old A330/200
There is no such thing as certainty, but you can be moderately sure that if you fly Milan Malpensa to New York will be flown on the old A330/200, I have searched until next summer and all flights appear, at the moment, to be operated with the old plane. A choice that confirms how little ITA intends to focus on the airport in the province of Varese.
Milan/New York is the busiest route in Italy, and only in London are there so many companies flying from between the two sides of the Atlantic as to Milan. The fact that ITA confirms the presence of its "worst" aircraft while competitors field modern machines or those with newly renovated cabins makes ITA's choice the least attractive of the lot. Also looking ahead to the return of Emirates' A380 with new business and premium economy cabins.
The A350 for longer routes
ITA Airways' intercontinental network is not very large, to date it reaches fewer destinations than Alitalia did before the pandemic (and bankruptcy). Of the routes to date for sale all would be operable with the different aircraft in the fleet. ITA's choice, however, is to put the A350 on the most profitable routes, where there is more demand for tickets and especially those where it can also serve larger holds.
As of today, the A350 is safe on flights from Fiumicino to Tokyo Haneda and Buenos Aires. The six examples throughout the summer, that is, until the end of October, will also fly to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The promiscuous routes
All other routes in ITA's network are on sale with the different machines in rotation. For example to São Paulo, where ITA flies twice a day, with the winter season will see a major presence of the A350 alternating with the A330.
ITA's a350 just landed in Malé.
It cannot be ruled out that the A350 will also be used during the highlight of the Christmas season on the route to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and a premium destination that ITA has confirmed again this year in its winter schedule.
In conclusion
The hardware is different, but the software should be the same. The in-flight service in fact should not change, certainly the comfort of the more modern planes however is clearly superior to the old A330s. Too bad ITA still hasn't changed its mind about Malpensa, but maybe it will be up to Lufthansa to make certain decisions.
